Disney Kingdoms Next Stop is the “Enchanted Tiki Room” in a New MARVEL Comics Series!

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

Following in the footsteps of Seekers of the Weird, Figment, Figment 2, and the Haunted Mansion, Disney today announced an all-new adventure in the “Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room” from Disney Kingdoms. This five-part comic series will debut this fall at Disney Parks.

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The series will be written by Jon Adams. Artwork will be penciled by Horacio Domingues with cover artwork (shown above) by Brian Kesinger.

 

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Variant cover designed by Disney Imagineer Jason Grandt

 

Look for the Enchanted Tiki Room series this fall in select merchandise locations at Disney Parks, but it should also be available outside of the parks like the other series.

PHOTOS: Epcot’s Disney Vacation Club Lounge Brings Imagination Pavilion’s Old ImageWorks Back to Life

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

It’s back! After not seeing much use since it closed back in 1998, the former upper level of the ImageWorks at the Imagination pavilion at Epcot returned to service earlier this week as the Disney Vacation Club Member Lounge. Let’s take a look around, shall we?

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There is a check-in desk and small waiting area downstairs in the new ImageWorks.

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Some member merchandise on display downstairs.

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You must be a DVC member with an active membership card to gain access, and you are allowed up to 4 guests.

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Guests can take the stairs or elevator upstairs, just like when it used to be the ImageWorks.

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New flooring, carpet and paint can be found throughout the lounge.

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The welcome desk is where members can find help with anything they might need.

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DVC cast members even walk around with snacks for guests.

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Disney Infinity set up for guests to play.

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There are Coke Freestyle machines, but also K-Cup coffee makers with k-cups available upon request.

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Computers and a printer for members to use.

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An area where kids (and kids at heart) can watch cartoons.

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A lot of the old passageways to ImageWorks were simply sealed.

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Charging stations available (you have to bring your own cords), along with iPads for guest use.

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Even though it may not be for everyone, it is nice to see the space back in action.

What do you think?

Photos by Nick LoCicero

Disneyland To Celebrate the Opening of Shanghai Disney Resort with Giveaways, Meet & Greets, and More

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

Next week brings the official opening of Shanghai Disney Resort in China, and the Disneyland Resort will be marking the occasion in a special way.

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On Thursday, June 16, the Hollywood Land area at Disney California Adventure park will host special entertainment and photo opportunities in honor of the opening of the newest Disney destination. The festivities will feature colorful performances by local community groups, along with character appearances by Mulan and Mushu. Some favorite Asian-inspired food & beverage offerings, including pork bao, almond cookies and pot stickers, will also be available for purchase. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In addition, Disney will be giving away a button commemorating the opening of Shanghai Disney Resort to each guest entering the Disneyland Resort theme parks, while supplies last.

VIDEO: Disney Testing New Interactive Droid Characters in Preparation for Star Wars Land

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

Even though we are at least 2 years away from the Star Wars themed lands at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disneyland Park, that doesn’t mean we will have to wait that long to see what Disney has in store for us in what they promise will be the most immersive theme park experience offered to date. Since all matter of droids will be roaming through the streets and markets of the remote outpost planet, we know Disney Imagineers will have to create impressive new interactive characters to fill those roles. Well, it seems the very first one is already roaming around Star Wars Launch Bay at Disneyland, perhaps as an early test of what’s to come…

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The following video was taken by DAPs Magic and shared on YouTube:

The droid is known as Jake, and if you watch the video closely, you’ll notice he can interact with the environment inside of Launch Bay, turning on and off nearby items around him. Pretty impressive, huh?

If this is just a small sample of what is on the way in the Star Wars themed lands, I think we are in for something pretty special with this project…

Again, credit goes to DAPs Magic for the awesome find.

PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 6/9/16 (Finding Dory, Grand Floridian, New Tiki Room Merchandise, ETC.)

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen and myself recently visited the Magic Kingdom and the nearby resort hotels and have some newsworthy photos to share in our latest photo report, so let’s take a look:

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They recently started selling a lot of Little Golden Book style merchandise, including these notepads

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Welcome to the Magic Kingdom

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The City Hall Restrooms are still closed for refurbishment

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Coke bottles at the Disney Parks currently have Disney song lyrics on them

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Heritage House is still behind tarps

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Fairly new Star Wars C-3P0 and R2-D2 MagicBand

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Finding Dory merchandise can now be found all around the resort

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Chip and Dale have moved to Tomorrowland, while Woody and Jessie have taken their old spot

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Last year’s March Magic desgins are now being sold as a mystery pin set

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You can get 5 in a pouch for $27.99

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You’ll be happy to know I finished my set 😉

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More and more Disneyland Diamond Celebration merchandise is finding its way to WDW

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Gaston’s Tavern menu seems set now, mostly pastries and LeFou’s Brew

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And that monstrosity

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New Happy Birthday pin that comes in a box

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With the Castle stage show not performing, the Main Street Vehicles are getting more time to appear daily

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The fun ends June 17th when Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire debuts

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The upper level of Carousel of Progress has gone from orange to blue

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Painters were out during operating hours painting the stage

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Some new lighting installed in the stage

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There is now variant version of Haunted Mansion issue #3, so Disney Parks have the regular version

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Frontierland Trading Post had quite the shakeup last week, everything was moved around

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The left side of the shop is now pins

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The right side is all MagicBands and assorted band accessories

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I was happy to see Frontierland and Splash Mountain merchandise is now being carried in the Briar Patch shop

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New Huggies signage is being installed at changing tables all around WDW

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We already have an entire post about the new Carousel of Progress paint scheme…

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A new Tiki Room snowglobe available in Adventureland

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The Grand Floridian has a fair amount of new logo merchandise available in M. Mouse Mercantile 
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Meanwhile, work continues on enhancements to Wilderness Lodge in preparation for the Copper Creek Villas

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VIDEO: Preview More Destinations for Soarin’ Around the World, Including the Matterhorn

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

In this video, Walt Disney Imagineering portfolio creative executive Tom Fitzgerald tells us more about the development of this new experience, including the attraction’s incredible international itinerary. You might even notice we’re visiting a couple of landmarks which provided inspiration for some beloved Disneyland Resort attractions.

Flights on Soarin’ Around the World depart beginning June 17 from both Disney California Adventure park at the Disneyland Resort, and Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort, one day after Soaring Over the Horizon debuts at the grand opening of Shanghai Disneyland on June 16. Don’t miss your last chance to experience the original Soarin’, now through June 15 at DCA and through June 16th at Epcot.

PHOTO REPORT: Epcot 6/8/16 (Frozen Ever After, Margaritas Return, Frozen Coke with Alcohol, ETC.)

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

I took a quick trip to Epcot last night to see what was new around the park, so mlet’s see what I found in our latest photo report:

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New Epcot kid’s shirt

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Pluto recently took Daisy’s place in World Showcase

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Rose and Crown in the U.K. has more merchandise than most Walt Disney World attractions…

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These pamphlets are currently being handed out at The Seas

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This cool lithograph was for sale in the Seas gift shop

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The Promenade transitioned out of Flower and Garden with a Chili Hot Dog

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With the Margarita booth closed, Mexico is keeping the Flower and Garden booth around to sell Margaritas and a few small bites

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The closed booth

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The Royal Sommerhus is looking good, opens officially on the 29th

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Frozen Ever After is coming along nicely as well

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The last store in the chain of Norway shops is now all Frozen merchandise

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New walls separate it from the attraction exit for now

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The former changing room is walled off

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The Refreshment Outpost axed the frozen yogurt it has had for over 2 years now in favor of ice cream…

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Liberty Inn is now serving a Frozen Coke with a float of whiskey

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The World Traveler store in International Gateway is selling bottles of wine and glasses now

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Just in case you want wine on the way in or out of the park I guess…

BREAKING: Typhoon Lagoon Expansion Planned with New Family Raft Ride

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

According to permits filed by Disney with the South Florida Water Management District, there is a 2 acre expansion of Typhoon Lagoon water park on the way…

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According to the document, the plans include “construction of new guest areas, including a water feature. Sidewalks and landscaped areas will be provided for guest access.” The main attraction in the new area is highlighted as “a new family raft ride that is to be located west of the Crush N Gusher ride.” The ride would take place in an elevated flume/track. The graphic below shows the ride area in green overlaid on an aerial view of Typhoon Lagoon.  The ride itself will be located to the west of Crush N Gusher, and a lot of the associated walkways will occupy the current sandy area near the exit pool from Crush N Gusher.

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Disney has not announced this project yet, but filing these permits is the first step in the construction process.

TONIGHT on WDW News Tonight (6/8/16) – Haunting Attractions, New Restaurants, & “Disney Springs or Orlando Outlets?”

WDWNT on June 22, 2016

Tonight on WDW News Tonight, we go “Ghostbusting” through Walt Disney World, we review some new restaurants, and we play “Disney Springs or Orlando Premium Outlets?”…

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WDW News Tonight is hosted by Tom Corless and Nick LoCicero, former hosts of WDW News Today: The Radio Show, but also features appearances by a number of other WDWNT correspondents.

If you are in the Orlando area, you can tune in to AM 1520 WBZW at showtime. For those outside the Orlando area, the show can be heard (and now watched via video stream) at Listen.WDWNT.com on your computer or mobile device. The show also utilizes new interactive avenues for our audience, including a live chat, the ability to call-in to the show, and live polling.

Coming up on this week’s show:

  • A recap of the week’s news (with a WDWNT comedic twist)
  • A review of Tiffins, Noma md Lounge, and STK Lunch
  • Tom and Nick are Angry About Things
  • Flash Back to the Future –
  • “Disney Springs or Orlando Premium Outlets?”, featuring prizes from Theme Park Connection
  • Who’s Hates Tom Now?
  • Ghosts of Walt Disney World – A Discussion on Extinct Attractions That Still Haunt Walt Disney World
  • And who knows what else, since Tom is away this week!

We hope that you will tune in this Wednesday at 9PM ET for another episode of WDW News Tonight!

If you missed the last show, you can watch it here:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69P5E5oYloU]